1. How do we explain and apply theory to Social Phenomena
Paper Due Today Collect at the end of the band
Theory Discussed and applied
Begin Film today
3/8 Exam One Chapter 1, 4, Match up terms
25 Multiple Choice Review Self Quiz in the back of each chapter
3/12 Complete Film We need to Talk about Kevin
3/19 Seminar Families , Guided Questions and paper due your evaluation of “motherhood” We need to talk about Kevin
4/5 Amusing the Millions Seminar Guided Questions due , Use to discuss in Seminar your analysis of Coney Island
4/9 Women and Economics Due Answer the questions in details
4/16 Begin Era Presentations : Choose a group of 3-4
Choose an era 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, One Era per group
Remit your groups names and eras to me by Friday 3/8 for approval Directions will follow

2. How do we explain social phenomena?
Conflict Theory
How do we explain social phenomena?

3. Conflict theory vs Marxism
Conflict theory: power is the core of ALL social relationships
Marxism: much like conflict theory but power is gained through economics
Characterized by an economic struggle between the haves and have-nots.
Your examples :

4. Conflict Theory Alternative to functionalism
Macrosociological theoretical perspective
Resentment and hostility are constant elements of society
Power differences among social classes
Special interest groups fight over scarce resources of society
Interest groups fight to gain advantages over others
Give an example

5. Conflict Theory (Cont’d)
Competition puts society off-balance until dominant group gains control and stability through power
How is this theory expressed in politics?
Sex roles, sports, business

6. Influences Karl Marx (1818-1883)
Humanist: wanted all individuals to reach their full human potential
Believed humans make their own history (historical method)
Controlling material production division of labor formation of economic social classes Class struggle
Trying to combine material and ideal factors/ structural and cultural factors

7. Marx (cont’d) Society was a two-class system:
Bourgeoisie (owners of the means of production)
Proletariat (workers)

8. Marx (cont’d)
Class differences have a lot to do with possession of personal property
Believed the exploited would become conscious and unite communism  elimination of class struggle
Main ideas behind communism are stated in the communist manifesto

9. Max Weber ( )
Agreed with Marx (economics played a central role in power distinction).
Believed in Two other factors:
Social prestige (status)
Example: someone could be poor and still hold a lot of power because of social prestige  Mother Theresa
Political influence
Example: Politician who has great power, but does not earn a big salary

10. Max Weber (cont’d)
Weber defined power as “the ability to impose one’s will on another, even when the other objects” (p. 72 CST)
Authority: legitimate power; used with consent of the ruled
Distribution of power and authority = basis of social conflict
HOWEVER: if subordinates believe in the authority= avoided conflict
If authority is not recognized as a legitimate= conflict
Give an example:

11. Max Weber (cont’d) People with power want to keep it
People w/out power want to seek it
3 types of authority:
Rational-legal
Traditional
Charismatic
Give examples of people who have gained power, keep power through the types of authority listed above

12. Your activity Based on the different sociological perspectives/theory
Apply a theory to the hypothetical and explain why your group used that perspective.
Make a hypothetical : choose a theory to explain.

13. Begin Film We need to Talk about Kevin
Guided questions: on Line and hard copy remitted
Paper due 3/19 Seminar on families
Read Chapter 14 by that date, discuss film
How does “the family” influence who we are?

14. Georg Simmel (1858-1918) Wanted to develop a mathematics of society
Collection of statements about human relationships and social behavior
Disagreed with Marx that social classes are formed horizontally
There are differences in power and opinions within each group.

15. Georg Simmel (1858-1918) Concepts and contributions:
Rejects organic theory
Saw society as the sum of individual interaction
The most important relationship is between leaders and followers, superior and subordinates
Superiordinate and subordinate have a reciprocal relationship

16. Georg Simmel ( )
Believed social action always involves harmony and conflict, love and hatred (p.74)
Secrecy: people who hold secrets are in a position of power.
Some groups are formed around secrets and are known as secret societies
are usually in conflict with the greater society
Initiation creates hierarchy

17. Modern Conflict Theory
Ideas of Marx, Weber, and Simmel resurfaced in America in the 1950’s through two German Sociologists:
Lewis Coser
Ralph Dahrendorf

18. Lewis Coser ( )
Defined conflict as “a struggle over values and claims to scarce status, power and resources in which the aims of the opponents are to neutralize, injure, or eliminate their rivals.”
Conflicts between intergroups and intragroups are part of social life

19. Lewis Coser ( )
Conflict is part of relationships and is not necessarily a sign of instability
Conflict serves several functions:
Leads to social change
Can stimulate innovation
During times of war threat, can increase central power

20. Lewis Coser ( )
Explored sixteen propositions of conflict through functions
Thought that conflict= boundaries between different groups unity between individual members of that group and determines boundaries of power

21. Ralf Dahrendorf (1929- )
Social order is maintained by force from the top
Tension is constant
Extreme social change can happen at any time
“there cannot be conflict unless some degreee of consensus has already been established” (p. 89)
Once reached, conflict temporarily disappears

22. C. Wright Mills (1916-1962) Work centered around power
Several dimensions of inequality (like Weber)
Power can be independent from economic class
Version of conflict theory-closer to Weber’s than Marx

23. C. Wright Mills ( )
Concept of power elite, rather than ruling class=difference between Marx and Mills
There is a triangle of power:
Military
Industry
Politics
White-collar world kept power elite on top

24. C. Wright Mills (1916-1962) There are three types of power:
Authority: power justified by the beliefs of the voluntarily obedient
Manipulation: power wielded unknown to the powerless
Coercion: the “final” form of power, where the powerless are forced to obey the powerful

25. Randall Collins (1941- )
“power and status are fundamental relational dimensions at the micro level of social interaction and perhaps at the macro level as well” (p. 96)
Collins believes there are certain goods that every group wants to pursue
Wealth, power, and prestige
“Concluded that coercion and the ability to “force” others to behave a certain way are the primary basis of conflict” (p.96)

26. Randall Collins (1941- )
Had a stratified approach to conflict that had 3 basic principles and 5 principles of conflict analysis

27. Relevancy
Maintains that what social order does, is the result of power elites’ coercion of masses
Those without power seek social change
Two class system by Marx
Contemporary conflict theorists don’t limit power to just economics, but also look at other issues

28. Relevancy (cont’d) Three criticisms of conflict theory:
Ignores other ways (i.e. non-forceful ways in which people reach agreements
Sides with people who lack power
Focuses on economic factors as the sole issue for all conflict in society
This primarily is for Marx’s approach

29. Relevancy (cont’d)
Differences in power are in all types of interaction
Power used to be physical, but now, it’s legal and economic